Resolved: In the United States, current income disparities threaten democratic ideals.
Before getting into the Pro's and Con's of this topic, it's important to acknowledge some things and make sure the debates don't veer off into shouting matches about class warfare (which is likely to happen anyway).
The income disparity in this country, or wealth gap, has grown considerably over the years. Many stats will prove that. But is it such a given that this condition is a bad thing? After all, the wealthy provide a lot of opportunities for regular folks. Jobs. Scholarships. Charitable donations. Some CEO's don't even take a salary as they make their millions in investments. And who are we talking about when we talk about the poor? There are people who live in unsavory neighborhoods. There are those who use social welfare (food stamps, medicaid, unemployment benefits). But even most of those people own cars, use cell-phones and have televisions. The poor in Somalia would have nothing in common with the poor in the U.S. The truly poor in our country would be the homeless and families in crisis.
Thinking about these issues will help you focus your points. It will also help you to stay on topic and avoid points that vilify the wealthy or make rude judgements about the poor. Instead, ask yourself "Despite my feelings about the wealthy and/or the poor, what affect do these circumstances have on ideals like equal representation, the civil duty of voting, and the integrity of government?"
If you're still struggling I'll have some point-specific items up this weekend.
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